Authorities rule out smoking areas at construction sites under proposed ban

he government is clamping down on smoking at construction sites following the Tai Po fire.

Photo: Jelly Tse Hong Kong labour authorities have ruled out setting up designated smoking areas under a proposed ban on lighting up at construction sites due to “enforcement difficulties”, while pledging to deploy drones with heat sensors to strengthen inspections.

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum also said on Monday that the planned smoking ban – which was proposed in the wake of the deadly Tai Po fire last November – would apply to all areas of construction sites, replacing the existing restrictions for specific locations.

The Labour Department’s proposal would not include designated smoking areas, given that it could create “operational grey areas” for inspectors enforcing the law, he said. “We believe that setting up smoking areas at construction sites would actually complicate everyone’s work,” Hui said.

The proposal was presented to a meeting of the Legislative Council’s manpower panel on Monday as part of efforts to improve safety following the deaths of 168 people in the fire at Wang Fuk Court.

Earlier this month, an evidential hearing was told that the blaze was “most likely” to have been caused by someone lighting a cigarette, which ignited flammable materials stacked in a lightwell at the estate.

Residents had previously complained about construction workers smoking on-site during the renovation project.

The department said on Monday that there was “strong community consensus” on a full smoking ban to be implemented at all sites.

A worker is seen lighting up outside a construction site in March.

Photo: Jelly Tse But several lawmakers suggested setting up designated areas where workers could take smoke breaks, warning they might instead find hidden corners to secretly light up.

Lawmaker Aaron Bok Kwok-ming, who represents the engineering sector, suggested that the government could empower site managers to mark off a suitable smoking area. “If the workers crave a cigarette and hide to smoke one behind the pile of cement bags, it could be even more dangerous,” he said.

The proposal will also impose a HK$3,000 fine on workers caught smoking at construction sites, while contractors could face financial penalties of up to HK$400,000 for violations.

Commissioner Hui said the government would instead explore deploying drones equipped with heat sensors to ensure compliance with the proposed ban at construction sites.

Lawmaker Kingsley Wong K

原文链接: 南华早报